Linda, Ed and I headed up to Magnetic Island last week at the invitation of Maayan and Sam to celebrate their wedding. What a paradise the island is – beautiful bays, superb weather and stunning landscapes.

Highlights (apart from the beautiful barefoot beach wedding) were the tubing with Ed and Leo, the nights out with everyone and the walks to the remote bays.

Sam’s dad Ian presided over a fairly irreligious service at the end of Horseshoe Bay.

All up, a great family holiday and particularly nice to reacquaint myself with Dinu and Angela.

Here’s a link to all the photos.

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I’m not exactly sure what to write at the moment but here’s a selection of our favourite photos.

Au revoir.

Alice was a hit last night as Reno Sweeney, the lead in the school’s Anything Goes production.

Click here to see more photos.

During the past two weeks, we’ve been showing off Sydney to Eric and Marie-Anne, who earlier had campervanned though the Northern Territory and Cairns.

Firstly was a weekend in Kiama, and after a trek though the Minamurra Rainforest, we prepared a feast of local seafood, thanks to Michel and the co-op across the road.

The photo above is a view of the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk.

And what better way to showcase the harbour to a pair of French sailors but on board a 51′ yacht the next weekend…

And the next day, a gathering of the clan at our place.

All the photos from these great two weeks can be found here.

Christmas this year was a much smaller and quieter occasion compared with recent years but just as enjoyable. The day started with a very early phone call to Alice, currently on a ski holiday at La Toussuire.

Today we shipped Alice off to Roanne, a small-ish town near Lyon. She’ll have two weeks school, two week’s holiday with her host family les Fassolettes and then a week in Paris.

UPDATE

Alice is having a great time – here’s a selection of the photos she has taken. Click here. 

Alice’s Year 10 Formal.

Everyone got dressed up for trick or treat.

…including Jerry.

Hard not enjoy a week in the sun, showing off the North Coast to Francoise. We watch the daily French news and while we’re sweating bullets, the family in France is knee deep in -15C and snow.

C’est la vie!

In honour of our cousin from France, Francoise Prunier, the clan assembled at our house for an all time great feast courtesy of Linda, Katrina, Peter, Alex, Michel, Cherin, Shan Shan plus anyone else I have omitted.

Boxing Day was spent at North Head, picnicing on the leftovers and watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart.